They Failed To Recognize Her Cancer Twice, Now It May Be Too Late

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Story

Khusbu is from a very interior village in Odisha, but she dreams big - of going to the city, working and making her parents proud. Little did she know that her first time in the city would be to get treated for cancer.

“She just completed her 12th and was looking forward to do her higher studies in the city. She was so excited about it. She even planned that she will call us for her graduation day... like they have in the movies, but look at her now… she can’t even talk without trembling. She has become so weak.” - Ananditi, mother

She has never been this quiet

“My daughter is the eldest of all and the most active also. She can talk an entire day if you let her. What has happened to her suddenly? She has never been this quiet. She never even had a bad fever in these 17 years... And now cancer?” - Ananditi

Khusbu suffers from acute leukemia, a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells. Only chemotherapy can save her life.

Twice... The symptoms came up twice, but we never suspected what the underlying reason was

It all started in October, when Khusbu started losing weight drastically. Her worried parents took her to the local doctors. After a few tests, it was revealed that her blood levels are dangerously down and she needs transfusion. The incident repeated just within the next 10 days.

“I should have taken her to a bigger hospital the very first time itself. Maybe it would not have gotten this worse. Maybe doctors could have stopped her from having... having cancer.” - Rinku, father

What he earns in a month is not enough to afford even one day's treatment

“We live in a small rented house, and with my income it is hardly enough to even provide my family proper meals three times a day. How will I have any savings? I begged and borrowed whatever I can but it is not enough. When we left our village, I never expected it would cost so much. How will I save my daughter like this?” - Rinku

Rinku works as a private bus conductor and what he earns in a month is not even enough to pay for one day's treatment cost for Khusbu. 10 lakhs is a huge amount for him to bear but without the chemotherapy, Khusbu won’t be able to make it.